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Suzanne
- Rate TSh 263,500
- Response 1h
-
Students50+
Number of students Suzanne has accompanied since arriving at Superprof
Number of students Suzanne has accompanied since arriving at Superprof

TSh 263,500/hr
1st lesson free
- Photography
Experienced tutor in Photography in Boston, Suzanne offers private lessons tailored to your needs.
- Photography
Lesson location
Recommended
Suzanne is a respected member of our tutor community. She is highly recommended for her commitment and the quality of her lessons. An excellent choice to progress with confidence.
About Suzanne
My Goal is to help you take your photos from like to LOVE. This is a mindful photography approach that invites you to slow down and really see the world around you through the lens. All classes are in person so you recieve individual attention and coaching. I create a custom learning path for you so you can progress in a step by step fashion rather than jumping from one class to another, then to youtube, then to a book.
About your instructor: Suzanne Merritt is a master level photography instructor with a studio at the Boston Center for the Arts. She has led workshops on beauty, photography, and creativity in Asia, Europe and the United States for the past 25 years.
She was the founder of the Polaroid Creativity Lab and in 2016 opened The Curious Soul Photo School in Boston MA.
She is the organizer of the Take Better Pictures Meetup group with 2500 members and has led over 900 photography classes and tours in Boston and Beyond.
Suzanne provides step by step instructions as well as handouts so you can practice the techniques you learn again after class.
Suzanne has a masters degree in Aesthetic Education which uniquely qualifies her to offer instruction of elements design and beauty in photography. She is also a published author of the award winning book, Flow-tography:The Curious Soul’s Guide to Intuitive Photography.
I worked at Polaroid for 15 years in various roles. For the last 6 years I was the founder of the Creativity Lab. I began leading workshops all over the world to help scientists challenge asumptions and see the world with fresh eyes. Because of this, I know how to set learning goals, and build step by step understanding of complex topics like f stops and shutter speeds.
I like to teach and since I have a masters degree in Aesthetic Education, I know how to really help people understand the design principles of composition, color, light, texture etc. that make a photo successful. I offer handouts and field guides so you can take what you learn with you where ever you go.
I was a corporate trainer at Polaroid. I have a masters degree in Aesthetic Education. I have led hundreds of photography workshops around the world. I am not just a photographer that now teaches, I am a professional instructor who understands how to make complex concepts clear and accessable for beginner and intermediate students.
I have 30 years of teaching expereince, more than most instructors you will find. So I have deep and broad knowledge of what matters most. I teach technical basics, and focus more on teaching how to see and be connected to what you photograph. This is something you can not learn from a youtube video;)
About the lesson
- All Levels
- English
All languages in which the lesson is available :
English
At our first meeting I take a look at 20 of your photos to assess your current level of skill. Then I ask you to show me examples of the type of images you would love to be taking. From there we identify the gaps in experience and knowledge between where you are and where you want to be. These typically fall into three areas. 1. Camera Use 2. Creative Seeing 3. Being Present. I then design a learning path for you to build on what you know and explore new areas of learning.
I work with individuals who are passionate about photography. They may be self taught up to this point and discover they are not making progress.Or they may have tried learning at one point and now have forgotten much of what they learned.
Some of my private students are semi retired life long learners who now have the time to get more serious about photography and want to rediscover their creative self. Since this is a mindful approach, it is also a way of being and seeing the world with more appreciation and grattitude.
I am focused on with people who want to take better photos for the joy of it, not to win contests or get more likes. They might like to print or share their photos with family and friends.
Many are interested in travel photography so when they go on the trip of a life time, or a weekend in Maine, they capture images that express the beauty of the expereince.
With so many instructor to choose from, it can be overwelming to know who to work with. If I were going to select an instructor here is what I would do.
1. Look at the website and see if I like their sample photos and their general philosophy. This tells you alot about their depth of knowledge they can draw from to work with you.
2. Read testimonials and see what others valued about the experince.
3. Go old school and chat on the phone rather than just email. Then you can get an idea of their personality, sense of humor, and ability to communicate clearly. Have 2 or three questions ready and just have a conversation. You can always say at the end of the call you are talking to several people. You don't need to commit during the call.
One of my favorite teaching moments happened I reailzed the photos of some of my students had become better than mine. I just love it when people out grow my classes and go off on their own. The classes are about their photos, not mine.
Some instructors focus on getting students to take pictures like they do. I want students to find their own voice and express their creativity in their own way.
A few things worth thinking about before reaching out
What would make you feel deeper satsifaction with your photography?
What have you tried to learn so far?
Are you interested in photography as a form of creative self expression?
What type of camera do you use now?
Review
All of our reviews are collected by us and are 100% reliable. They correspond to a real experience lived by the students of Suzanne.
Perfect! Suzanne is an excellent instructor, with a high level of knowledge and a warm style of teaching. She has slides to share which anchor the learning and help create foundational knowledge so one can hear her speak as well as refer to the written word. She breaks up the learning schedule into smaller and more manageable units so that a new student is not overwhelmed, and can absorb facts which makes the knowledge immediately usable. I wish all the teachers in my past taught like Suzanne!
- Thank you for this feedback Nancy. I do love to teach and really want to make it fun and easy for you to learn. Photography can bring so much joy to life, once you get over the barrier of learning to use your camera.You caught on very quickly! It was a pleasure to work with you and I look forward to your second session. Next time we will get into some of the more creative aspects which I am sure you will enjoy.Suzanne's response :
Practice!
Suzanne
Perfect! Suzanne is fantastic. Very knowledgable, personable, and easy to work with. I was very hesitant to take a class because I was afraid of criticism of my work, but she put me at ease quickly. I’m looking forward to working with her more.
Perfect! She is an experienced photographer who is perfect for a ”newbie” like me. She took her time to explain how to set up my camera, safety issues, and encouraged me to have fun taking pictures. I will schedule a follow-up class at the end of the month.
Perfect! Suzanne of Curious Soul Photo School is very engaging and knowledgeable. She's a great teacher and made simple what I found difficult. I am now confident with practice I will experience tremendous growth within the field of photography
Perfect! Suzanne totally exceeded my expectations! She got me so excited to start using my new camera. I liked that we spent about the first half hour on theory - what elements comprise a good photo and then the rest of the lesson time taking pictures concentrating on those elements. Thanks to Suzanne I am now more than just a point and click photographer.
Perfect! I had one lesson so far with Suzanne for 90min. She was great and very informative. She had plenty to share after getting to know me and qualifying my current knowledge of photography, camera functions etc. I truly found our meeting extremely valuable and plan to meet with her to grow both my skill and knowledge level. She keeps things simple and in perspective so everything makes sense. There was not a minute wasted and I feel much of my per existing confusion was eliminated and am much more clear on my approach. I just need to practice. I strongly suggest anyone meet with her as the value is all there!!!
Perfect! I like the overall philosophy that Suzanne teaches, the way she explains the lessons, and the one-on-one time when she gives immediate feedback on my photos. I already feel more comfortable with my camera, picture composition, and critiquing my photos. I am looking forward to learning more and experiencing life through my lens!
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Recommendations
Recommendations come from relatives, friends and acquaintances of the teacher
Suzanne is an excellent photography coach who can gently push you outside your comfort zone to explore new areas of photography and improve your creativity and skill set even if you are already an experienced shooter. She is also great at teaching newer photographers to move beyond automatic mode and take control of their cameras and settings. I have taken a number of Suzanne's group classes during the past year and a half and have definitely improved as a result. She scouts out excellent shooting locations and begins each class by reviewing the principles and techniques that will be needed to succeed in that session. During the class she also makes a point of spending one-on-one time with each person and reviews their work afterwards. If you want to improve your photography skills, I can highly recommend Suzanne.
Suzanne is a true teacher - not just an excellent photographer and artist, but also an educator who takes care in outlining theories and frameworks clearly to help a learner grasp new concepts and adopt practical skills. Her methodology and perspective was a perfect match for my interests, but more broadly I appreciated the care, intention, and organization she brought to our lesson. Would recommend to anyone seeking to move their photography in a mindful, aesthetics-driven direction.
Suzanne will gladly help you to learn your camera and the basics of photography. She is very good at that.
But Suzanne's teaching methods really shine when going beyond the basics. She covers visual elements and composition. Her techniques apply to many types of photography: landscape, street, abstract, macro, architecture, etc. I have learned so much and my photography has improved dramatically.
The group classes include outings in the Boston area and these are fantastic! They are extremely well organized and helped me see Boston from a new (photographic) perspective.
I have tried photography classes and photo walks led by several other organizations and companies, and Curious Soul Photo School is by far the best.Suzanne is a skilled teacher offering a wonderful mix of inspiration, solid principles and useful skills for anyone eager to be a better photographer. Her photo walks are thoughtfully organized and very interesting experiences. I highly recommend after attending several walks over the years!
Suzanne helped me learn various ways to understand a brand new wide angle lessons. Her lesson opened up a whole new world for me and an appreciation for a lens I doubted I would use much. Now I am taking it everywhere. Suzanne has a low key and very knowledgeable way of teaching photography!
Suzanne has a wonderful way of guiding me toward capturing creative shots! Her classes are informative as well as inspiring. She's helped me with awareness of the goal for each shot. There's a great variety of topics and locations offered. She adds social elements, i.e. sharing photos with the group and providing constructive feedback. She's fantastic at personalizing your learning experience within a group! I highly recommend Suzanne as a photography instructor!
I’ve taken 8 photography workshops with Suzanne and learned a great deal at each one. Her planning is incredible. In addition to scouting the best places to photograph for the theme of the workshop, she provides such helpers as maps, example images and reminder cards outlining the key points. These cards allow us and encourage us to practice after the workshop is over. We are invited to post our images on the site and comment on each other’s work. She comments on each person’s endeavors as well. Her style of teaching involves getting to know each student (many of us are repeat students) and provide guidance as we shoot during the workshop. I feel I have really improved my skills due to her excellent teaching! (Did I mention how much fun we have?)
I have been taking workshops with Suzanne for the last few years. Being a photography hobbyist, I am thrilled with how much my photography skills have improved as well as learning to use my camera properly -- on and off auto.
Each workshop has a specific theme. Suzanne begins explaining the concept, shows us examples, and then gives us assignments to followthrough on. She offers guidance and assistance as well as feedback. It is always fun shooting with others and comparing how we each may have interpreted the very same thing.
My focus used to be simply nature. Suzanne's guidance has now branched me out to abstracts, architecture, reflections, and more. Since taking her classes, I see things ever so differently and use my camera to capture that magic.
Joining Suzanne for her workshops is educational and inspiring especially since she always selects the best locations while having lots of fun!
Suzanne Merritt, the talented photographer and founder of the Curious Soul Photo School, is a gifted teacher. Her approach is non technical and with her extensive background in aesthetics, she imparts a wealth of useful and interesting information to improve or enhance your photographs. She has great down to earth communication skills and really can help any level of photographer. Our Field trip to Rockport, Mass. was a full, rich & fun day. I highly recommend you take many private sessions with Suzanne.
Suzanne Merritt is an outstanding instructor. I learned more in one session with her and had much more fun than with any other class I’ve taken. It was just what I needed and I left with tons of very useful handouts. I highly recommend this instructor. I will be scheduling another private lesson soon. My photography is noticeably better since taking her classes.
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Rates
Rate
- TSh 263,500
Pack prices
- 5h: TSh 1315
- 10h: TSh 2630
free lessons
The first free lesson with Suzanne will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.
- 1hr
online
- TSh263,500/h
Details
I have three levels of session pricing. Typically a new student will meet with me for the first one hour session and together we will determine if it is a good fit. I love teaching and enjoy finding our more about the students specific interests and needs. Then I can customize the session just for them.
1. Tution is $100. per hour.
2. Series of three 90 minute sessions $450.
3. Master level includes 14 hours of one on one instruction, customized assignments and critiques. The series typically runs for 3 months. (concealed information)
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